streptococcus

streptococcus

medical : a type of bacteria that causes diseases in people and animals

pluralstrep·to·coc·ci\-ˈkä-ˌkī, -(ˌ)kē; -ˈkäk-ˌsī, -(ˌ)sē\

Full Definition of STREPTOCOCCUS

: any of a genus (Streptococcus) of spherical or ovoid chiefly nonmotile and parasitic gram-positive bacteria that divide only in one plane, occur in pairs or chains, and include important pathogens of humans and domestic animals; broadly: a coccus occurring in chains

Origin of STREPTOCOCCUS

New Latin

First Known Use: 1877

streptococcus

nounstrep·to·coc·cus \-ˈkäk-əs\(Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of STREPTOCOCCUS

1

capitalized: a genus of spherical or ovoid chiefly nonmotile and parasitic gram-positive bacteria (family Streptococcaceae) that divide only in one plane, occur in pairs or chains, and include important pathogens of humans and domestic animals

2

pluralstrep·to·coc·ci\-ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī\: any bacterium of the genus Streptococcus; broadly: a coccus occurring in chains